Published September 28, 2010

http://cdn.wbur.org/media/special/2010/wbur_0928_menino-mattapan-murders

Thomas Menino, Boston’s tough-on-crime mayor, is asking for the public’s help finding the “cowards” who killed four people, including a toddler, on 40 Woolson St. in Mattapan early this morning. The suspect or suspects are at large.

“We’re all united on this one. We’re gonna get ’em, we’re gonna lock ’em up and throw the key away,” Menino said in a news conference, seeming almost to cry.

“Cowards kill. Cowards use guns to settle their scores. Cowards hide. Let me tell you, Mattapan is strong and will not let them hide. To those who have no respect for life — and would commit these brutal acts — our streets are not your playground. Our kids cannot your collateral damage. We will not allow you to poison our city,” he said.

Police are looking for information about a silver or gray SUV seen driving away from the scene. You can report tips anonymously to Boston police detectives at (617) 343-4470 or (800) 494-TIPS.

The Globe quotes Monique Golay, 26, who summarizes my feelings exactly: “It’s ugly. It’s been ugly like this all summer long. Something has to happen,” she said. “It’s ugly, so ugly.”

On Saturday, the Globe reported:

An explosion of late-summer violence drove a 32 percent increase in murders so far this year over the same period in 2009, erasing what had appeared to be progress in fighting crime and alarming Boston police, who say they are scrambling for money to beef up patrols.

Another, non-fatal shooting occurred right next door, at 42 Woolson, late last month. It is not clear if the shootings are related.